Zach's Xanga post

Here's Zach's most recent post. it caused a firestorm of criticism.


Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Trying to put action into words in Northside:

its been a week since Chris came to live with us...and we have had a blast...we worshipped on Sunday together...and again last night...i have seen the community gather around him and provide rides, time to talk to him. its beautiful...

We told Chris, being that he is a Christian, early on that we reject the American Dream - or its Way of Life...we told him our goal is not to make him independent - that is living by himself with a car and a nice job...self sufficient. We told him its our desire that he would become family - if not to our Christian Community then to another...which means interdependence.

He moved in with the idea that it was only going to be a few days.... its been a week...and we are loving it - especially when he cooks for us. Chris, Lew, and I went pretty in depth on Christianity last night...talking about some serious bible stuff...shook Chris up alittle...but he is freakin tough...we told him our community is a place where he can ask tough questions of the faith...and have the freedom to work them out with the Spirit...we told him not to just accept our answers...but to wrestle with them.

I smile everytime i hear Chris talking about being with us during the holidays...i.e. "Hey Lew you think on Thanksgiving we can give away some turkeys to the poor?" it seems we maybe working with a local Church to help shelter the poor when it gets really cold this winter...Chris loves the idea...he said the Lord is leading and affirming Him to helping (indeed leading us) with this.

i am emotional...sorry....but last night...was beautiful...i was talkin on the phone last night outside and looked thru the window and saw Chris setting at the table with my roommate Chris Deering (who is not white, and i mention this for a reason) and he was teaching him something...then i saw Michael...a wealthy 17 yr old from the burbs sit at the table and join the convo. its beautiful seeing what an alternative community looks like...what the Church is supposed to be.

before we went to bed Chris (our homeless friend - fyi is doesnt have any legs below his knees, so he is in a wheelchair) and i smoked out on the porch...and talked...he asked me about fasting...i read him Isaiah 58 - the fast the Lord desires...we laughed...he told me his perspective on Job, he can relate to him. Mclaren said 'if you want to know what the bible means have someone who is oppressed or poor explain it to you b/c it was written by the poor, oppressed, and enslaved to the poor, persecuted, and oppressed'. (perhaps this is why its difficult to read as wealthy rich Christians - if you are reading this from a computor screen you are most likely wealthy) Chris is my teacher...and elder...and is teaching me a great deal...the Spirit is leading us both.